Bullets fault derby referees
Nyasa Big Bullets have lodged a complaint against officiation in Saturday’s 2022 TNM Super League opener against Mighty Wanderers despite winning 2-1 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
In an interview yesterday, the People’s Team chief executive officer (CEO) Suzgo Nyirenda said they are bitter with the referees who handled the latest episode of the Blantyre derby.
He said: “We have lodged the complaint because we feel officiation left a lot to be desired.
“The match officials, in particular the referee [Alfred Kaphamtengo], failed to take a firm line and we are not amused.”
Nyirenda said their complaints include two denied penalties and a disallowed goal.
“In the first half, we were denied a clear penalty when Misheck Seleman was fouled in the box.
“Then in the second half, we were also denied another penalty when Lanjesi Nkhoma was also fouled. As if that was not enough, we were denied a clear goal scored by Babatunde [Adepoju] after he was adjudged to be off-side.”
The Bullets CEO said they felt Wanderers’ equaliser from Vincent Nyangulu did not cross the line.
“It is in view of all these circumstances that we want Sulom and the national referees body to institute an investigation and take action.
“It does not matter that we won the match, but we want to win in a fair manner,” he said.
National Football Referees Association general secretary Chris Kalichero said he was yet to go through Bullets’ complaint.
He said: “Well, we thought it was a clean start and that there would be no complaints.
“Anyway, once we go through the complaint, we’ll do the needful, including going through the match assessor’s report.”
Sulom general secretary Williams Banda acknowledged receipt of Bullets’ complaint, saying: “We received the complaint and upon review, we will update the club on the agreed way forward in line with the relevant regulations.”
Nkhoma drew first blood for the champions before Nyangulu equalised and substitute Anthony Mfune grabbed a late winner for Bullets.
